Military urges Egyptians to vote

Cairo - Egypt's military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi urged citizens on Wednesday to vote in next week's presidential election, vowing a fair poll that will serve as an example to the world.

Tantawi, who took power when president Hosni Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising last year, called on Egyptians to "shoulder their national responsibility in the presidential election and choose a president for Egypt," the official MENA news agency reported.

"Egypt will offer an example to the world of free and fair presidential elections that (reflect) the will of the people," Tantawi said.

The country's first contested presidential election comes after 15 tumultuous months of political upheaval following the popular revolt launched on January 25, 2001.

Thirteen candidates are vying for the top job in the May 23-24 election, including former Arab League chief Amr Mussa and Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under Mubarak.